CBS Sports makes bold prediction for Falcons rookie

Prior to Tyler Allgeier’s breakout campaign in 2022, the last time a Falcons running back rushed for over 1,000 yards in season was Devonta Freeman back in 2016.

While many thought Allgeier would go into the 2023 season as Atlanta’s feature back, the team went in a different direction by drafting Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick. Both players should be heavily involved in the offense this season, but Robinson will likely take over as the No. 1 running back.

So what is Robinson’s ceiling in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense? CBS Sports predicts the Falcons rookie will finish top five in the NFL in rushing yards this season:

The Falcons run blocking is excellent and will create enough holes for Robinson to get a lot of big runs and force plenty of missed tackles. Don’t be surprised if Robinson makes an Adrian Peterson-type impact for this team in his rookie season. — Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports

Predicting a rookie running back will break 1,000 yards is bold, but comparing his potential impact to that of Adrian Peterson shows just how much hype Robinson has coming into the league. So, what would a top-five rushing season look like?

Last year, Eagles running back Miles Sanders finished fifth in the league with 1,269 rushing yards, while Raiders RB Josh Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards. Here’s a look at the top five rushers in 2022.

1. Josh Jacobs: 1,653
2. Derrick Henry: 1,538
3. Nick Chubb: 1,525
4. Saquon Barkley: 1,312
5. Miles Sanders: 1,269

Allgeier finished his rookie season with 1,035 rushing yards, which ranked 14th in the NFL.